Called by God? Part 2: Service

Just last week I gathered with several other young families and singles to further explore the potential of moving across the country to help start a new church in the Phoenix Valley. As a Pastor, I felt compelled to share with them what my mission Professor once shared with me when I was at a crossroads, of decision trying to determine my calling. He said, “Calling is more about a process then it is an event.”
So often we look for the magical and mystical experiential event to confirm our calling! Most are shocked to learn that the Bible doesn't emphasize this special, mystical calling to "The Ministry" or particular job or person.

Scripture References: Called to a Service:
•The word “Call” appears 296 times in scripture, twice it refers to missions/ministry
•Paul & Barnabas are set apart for ministry, made known by the Holy Spirit (Acts 13:2).
•Paul, Timothy and Luke receive a call to go to Macedonia (Acts 16:10).

The kind of "call"that is more often found in the Bible is more so an opportunity. In my study through scripture, I see people taking opportunities given to them, or responding to an invitation to help, or advance the Kingdom of God. Take for example, Jesus’ disciples. They were invited into something, by someone to serve. Or consider Nehemiah who received word about Jerusalem’s walls being broken down. He saw opportunity to serve and he took it! Or David who stepped up to slay a giant, when no one else would! Or what about Esther found her calling by seeing a need and decided to be brave and use her influence to save her people.

God’s call should often includes 5 things:
1.Community- a community can confirm ones gifts & new potential for a new ministry
2.Commission- Awareness- an understanding of the Great Commission Mt 28:19, Acts 1:8
3.Concern- concern for a city, people, or service should be in place
4.Conviction- in time ones concern should grow into a deeper conviction.

5 Reasons to Church Plant in Phoenix!

I am in Sky Harbor Airport waiting on my flight back to Dallas. I was invited by Mark DeYmaz, (pastor, author, speaker for multi-ethnic church) to a conference here in Phoenix. My time in the city and with Mark was invaluable.

After much prayer and counsel we think Phoenix would be a great location to church plant. Here are 5 reasons:

#1 Need: churches here are homogenous and seeker sensitive for the most part. People are segregated, crime is rampant, population growth presents a need for new churches and communities. There is in addition many lost, liberals and New Agers in this area of our country. It also has a large international community in the city, providing the church with a high potential to equip and send other Spanish speaking people overseas. We want to provide a multi-ethnic missional church that holds to doctrine, and biblical books in teaching.

#2 Personal Passion: My wife and I have an awakened passion and increasing zeal for this city and community. Large urban centers like Phoenix typically have small diverse Christian communities if at all. Many churches move out to the suburbs and cities are left w/o churches. We have a passion to minister to broad spectrum of people in and around these urban centers.

#3 Size/stats: It's the 5th largest city in the US. It's one of the fastest growing gateway international cities in the US. Greater Phoenix area is around 5-6 million and has 23 cities/towns in the metro area. Between 2000 and 2006 the international population grew from 656,183 to 929,083.

#4 Location: Geographically it's outside of the Bible Belt. It is in a region in which social conservative evangelical Protestantism is not the dominant influence of the culture. It's south and it's west, our two favorite parts of the country. AZ has tons of outdoor activity, which has always been a big part of my life and something I want to give back to my wife and kids.

#5 Collective Confirmation: After much despair and unrest in pursuing Madrid, we found ourselves being invited to explore Phoenix as an option. A few months ago I asked Mark DeYmaz at a conference in Dallas what city in the US had the greatest need for a missional, multi-ethnic church? Phoenix has instant response. Later that week I called Steve Snider (President of Fellowship Associates church planters group) and asked the same question. Without hesitation he said Phoenix as well! From my friends overseas to my family, to the local community in Phoenix it has been a collective confirmation of many that has led us to believe we would do well to pursue church planting in AZ.